World Bank-Supported ACReSAL Projects: FCTA Inaugurates Local Government Implementation Committees

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has taken a significant step towards the implementation of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL ) Project with the inauguration of the Local Government Implementation Committees (LGIC) for the six Area Councils of the Territory.

The inauguration ceremony, which took place at the Rockview Hotel Abuja, Friday, had the attendance the Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat Lawan Kolo Geidam who is also Chairman of the Technical Committee of the ACReSAL Project in FCT.

Also in attendance to oversee the inauguration was the National Project Coordinator (NPC) of ACReSAL, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar as well as Chairmen of the six Area Councils of FCT.

Formally inaugurating the Committees, Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Lawan Kolo Geidam, described ACReSAL as a laudable initiative which the FCT was lucky to be a part of.

He said the FCT will benefit immensely from the project which aims at promoting sustainable development and community empowerment through interventions in projects that will effectively address the challenges of land degradation and climate Change in Northern Nigeria on a multi-dimensional scale.

His words:”The Federal Capital Territory Administration considers itself very lucky to be a part of this laudable initiative which we belive will go a long way in addressing the serious environmental issues that affect the Agriculture sector particularly in rural communities whole livelihood depend on it.”

Geidam urged the Chairmen of the six Area Councils, whose communities are direct beneficiaries of the project to see it as a prime opportunity to enhance the living standards of their populace.

On the terms of reference of the Committees, Geidam said the major responsibility of the committees was to foster a sense of ownership and encourage community participation in aspects of the project being implemented at community and household levels.

He explained that the committee would be made up of the Chairmen of the Area Councils who will chair the Committees in their respective Area Councils, representatives of traditional institutions, with the Head of Departments of Works, Agriculture and Environment as members.
Other members he said include, include facilitators who are subject specialists and relevant non-governmental organisations.

The committees, he added will be responsible for overall supervision of the project at the local government level.

Geidam said, “The committees will also act as liaison to the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) and Secretariat, Departments and Agencies and provide support to stakeholder analysis and identification for implementation activities”.

Earlier, the project’s National Coordinator, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar, said the implementation of ACReSAL Project will help reduce the vulnerability of millions of the extreme poor people.

Umar said the Federal Project Implementation Unit (FPMU) which is the national coordinating agency of the project will continue to give the participating states, the needed guidance to ensure the success of the project.

He disclosed that a $700 million loan was secured from the World Bank in 2021 for the ACReSAL Project, and it became operational in 2022.

He, however, stressed that accessing the funds requires states to contribute their own counterpart funding.

“The FCT has already made a contribution of N334 million, and it is encouraged to settle the balance to reach the minimum required contribution of N500 million,” Umar said.

Also speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator, FCT ACReSAL
Mrs. Caroline Opara, stressed the critical role of t
committees in promoting inclusivity and assuring effective project implementation.